So I read the latest review I could find about the BrevilleBES900 and the gentleman had the same problem I have--he couldn't get his pressure above 7 bars. My two questions are, isn't there an OPV on this and couldn't I just try to adjust that to get the pressure up to 9 bars? Or should I try to return this. I called SCG, who I bought this refurbished machine from (shipped from Seattle to Colorado), and the girl told me the pressure gauge on this machine is "for looks". Frankly I don't know what to do. It's obvious from all the forums on all the coffee websites, including Breville's own, that this gauge is not meant to be "just for looks". I didn't pay $900 for a dbl boiler just for it's looks. I've been a barista at a coffee shop that is fanatic about its coffee, from espresso to drip, and know as much as any lowly, fairly new (1 year) barista can, about dialing in and making shots. I only use freshly roasted Novo (the best! from Denver) beans to grind in my baratza vario. But as close as I get to perfection with those freshly roasted beans, I can't get the crema or perfection of complicated taste from my beans and I supsect it's because of the lack of boiler pressure. Do I try to bully SCG into replacing the machine or try to adjust the OPV myself? Does anyone know of a source for Breville service in the Denver area? Thanks for any and all replies---Except for anyone who plans on trolling the BrevilleBES900; I've seen them all, the good and bad, all I'm hoping for is suggestions for my current problem--Thanks again!

Have you tried using a backflush disk in the porta filter to verify that the problem is with the machine, not the coffee/grind.

On mine, I get 10 bar using a metal (fully sealed) backfush disk, 7 bar using the Breville single shot double wall basket empty and 8 bar using the single shot double wall basket with the rubber back flush disk installed. My rubber disk has a small hole in it so it will not give the same results as a blind basket. If you get results similar to these, then the problem is not with the machine but with your technique or grinder.

The BDB pressure gauge is pretty accurate unless it is broken. From what I have read, it is pretty reliable. Breville has pretty good support. You could contact them.

If you want to adjust the OPV yourself, here is a link that covers it. It is pretty simple.

When I bought the Breville I bought a metal, fully sealed backflush disk. Didn't like the rubber thing. So this morning I did a backflush with metal disk. Couldn't get pressure above 7.9 no matter how long I waited....70 secs total. As far as how many grams of espresso fluid in how many secs (yes I have a precision scale that reads in .1 grams) it doesn't matter how many grams of coffee I use on any grinder setting, with any tamp pressure, for 12 to 82 seconds, the pressure bar will not go above 7.5, even when nothing is coming out because I've set grinder as fine as I can.

As far as adjusting the OPV, my question is does anyone here have experience with doing so, and do they think this can help. I've only read about others adjusting the OPV when the pressure problems had to do with it going too high (into the 12 to 13 bar range).

And frankly at this point I would return the thing to SCG but boxing the hefty puppy up and shipping it back with no guarantee they even believe the gauge is anything but "for looks", well....I'd rather find a Breville servicer around Denver if I could and pay an extra bit of money to have them "refurbish" this already "refurbished" machine. (Yup, took a chance on refurbished, and learned a very expensive lesson.) Thanks again all. I'm stuck, and hungry for that oh so heavenly taste of a nearly perfect espresso, all thoughts (again, except for trolls) greatly appreciated!

He probably meant RMA.... Return Material Authorization... maybe your vendor uses a different term... I don't know. You need to get the authorization first. If it is brand new and was DOA, I would ask them to pay the shipping.

From what it sounds like, your OPV is out of adjustment. With the metal, full sealing disk, you should be at 10 bar. You can try adjusting using the link I sent. It is pretty simple. I guess it is possible that the pump is weak or the gauge is faulty but either way, your pressure is too low. The comment from SCG about the pressure gauge being just for looks is wrong. I would trust the gauge.

SCG is a Breville dealer so you should be able to get service from Breville easily. In North America, I believe Breville does all their own servicing. I would call SCG and, if you don't get satisfaction, call Breville. From all accounts, Breville service is excellent.

I have a 23 month old BDB ( from the original build ) with 2800 shots on it and have had no problems other than the OPV which I adjusted myself. As well as the BDB, I have used an Alex Duetto 3 extensively and I prefer the BDB. Performance is similar, the Duetto is more fun to use but the BDB is much more convenient. Before both, I had a Sylvia which was a tad frustrating.

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